About the Program

This program is designed to prepare health professionals who can lead organizational efforts to improve and monitor quality metrics, improve safety for both patients and staff, and manage risks in a dynamic healthcare environment. Graduates of this program will be prepared to lead teams in a wide variety of quality and risk management initiatives including:

Aligning the patient safety, risk, and quality functions within the organization.

Ensuring that the patient safety, risk, and quality activities are aligned with the strategic goals of the organization.

Assessing current activities in patient safety, risk, and quality to clarify responsibilities and reduce duplication of effort.

Establishing a structure that ensures that patient care activities are addressed in a coordinated manner involving the patient safety, risk, and quality functions.

Assembling a team to ensure that the structure for patient safety, risk, and quality activities maximizes legal protections while allowing for the flow of information across all functions.

Admission Requirements (MS)

Bachelor of Science from a regionally accredited institution of higher education

Grade Point Average (GPA): A GPA of 3.0 or above on all previous coursework or last 60 credits completed. Applications from individuals with GPA < 3.0 may be considered on individual basis.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all previous educational institutions required. Transcripts must be submitted in sealed envelope directly from colleges/universities.

Prerequisites: N/A

References: Two professional references required from colleagues or supervisors who can attest to applicant's clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study. Recommendation letters must include address, phone number, and signature of recommender. The envelope must be submitted unopened.

Clinical/Work/Volunteer Experience: While specific experience not required, previous related work experience may make applicant more competitive.

International Students: International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

If students take the TOEFLiBT exam, they must have:
• A minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.
• a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.

Admission Requirements (MSN)

Bachelor of Science from a regionally accredited institution of higher education

Those with a BSN must be from an institution accredited by National League of Nursing (NLN) and/or American Association Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The accrediting body for NLN is ACEN and the accrediting body for the American Association Colleges of Nursing is CCNE.

Grade Point Average (GPA): A GPA of 3.0 or above on all previous coursework or last 60 credits completed. Applications from individuals with GPA < 3.0 may be considered on individual basis.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all previous educational institutions required. Transcripts must be submitted in sealed envelope directly from colleges/universities.

Prerequisites: N/A

References: Two professional references required from colleagues or supervisors who can attest to applicant's clinical knowledge, skill, and potential aptitude for graduate study. Recommendation letters must include address, phone number, and signature of recommender. The envelope must be submitted unopened.

Licenses: Copy of current U.S. Registered Nurse license required for nurses pursuing MSN.

Clinical/Work/Volunteer Experience: While specific experience not required, previous related work experience may make applicant more competitive.

International Students: International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

If students take the TOEFLiBT exam, they must have:
• A minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher.
• a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.

Writing-intensive Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

For additional information, and an up-to-date list of the writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Drexel University Writing Center page